Isaiah 35: The Ransomed Return With Singing
The desert blossoms, weak hands are strengthened, and the redeemed walk a Holy Way home to Zion with everlasting joy on their heads.
Isaiah 35 (WEB)
1 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2 It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
8 A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there.
9 No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there.
10 The Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Isaiah 35 (KJV)
1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35 (ASV)
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Summary
After the desolation of judgment, Isaiah bursts into a song of restoration. The wilderness and dry land will be glad, and the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose, abundantly, with joy and singing, clothed in the glory of Lebanon and the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. There the people will see the glory of the Lord, the excellence of their God. Isaiah calls the weary to strengthen their weak hands and steady their feeble knees, and to tell the fearful in heart, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid,” for God himself is coming with salvation. When he comes, the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing, for waters will break out in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water. A highway will run through this renewed land, called the Holy Way, where the unclean cannot pass and no lion lurks, a road kept for the redeemed alone. And so the Lord's ransomed ones will return, coming to Zion with singing, everlasting joy upon their heads; they will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. The chapter is a radiant preview of the salvation God brings—signs Jesus would later point to as proof that the kingdom had drawn near.
Key Figures
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who comes to save, transforming the wilderness, healing the blind, deaf, lame, and mute, and leading his ransomed people home with joy.
- The ransomed of the Lord — The redeemed people who walk the Holy Way and return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy, their sorrow and sighing fleeing away.
- The fearful and weak — Those with weak hands, feeble knees, and anxious hearts, called to be strong and unafraid because their God is coming to rescue them.
Key Verse
Isaiah 35:10 (WEB)
The Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Lessons Learned
- God can turn the driest wilderness into a place of blossoming joy.
- The fearful and weary are invited to take courage because their God is coming to save.
- The healing of the blind, deaf, lame, and mute marks the arrival of God's saving kingdom.
- The redeemed are kept safe on the Holy Way and brought home to lasting joy with sorrow banished.
- God brings life to barren places. “The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose” (Isaiah 35:1, WEB); his salvation transforms what is dead and dry into flourishing joy.
- Fear gives way to courage in God. “Be strong. Don’t be afraid… your God will come… He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4, WEB). His coming is the cure for our fear.
- Salvation heals the broken. “The eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped” (Isaiah 35:5, WEB); Jesus points to these signs as marks of his kingdom (Matthew 11:5).
- God provides a safe and holy road home. “A highway will be there… it will be called The Holy Way” (Isaiah 35:8, WEB), reserved for the redeemed and free from every danger.
- Everlasting joy awaits the redeemed. The ransomed “come with singing to Zion… and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10, WEB). God's salvation ends in unending gladness.
- How does this chapter contrast with the desolation of Isaiah 34, and what makes the difference?
- What encouragement does Isaiah give to those with weak hands, feeble knees, and fearful hearts?
- How does Jesus connect the healings of verses 5-6 to his own ministry (Matthew 11:5)?
- What is the “Holy Way,” and who travels on it?
- Where do you most long for God's promise that “sorrow and sighing will flee away,” and how does this chapter give hope?
- Chapter 34 ends in burning, lifeless desolation; chapter 35 opens with a desert blossoming and singing. The difference is the coming of God to save (35:4). His salvation reverses ruin and brings flourishing life and joy.
- Isaiah tells them to be strong and unafraid “for behold, your God will come… and save you” (35:4). The cure for weariness and fear is not self-effort but the assurance that God himself is coming to rescue his people.
- When John's disciples ask if he is the one to come, Jesus answers that the blind see, the lame walk, and the deaf hear (Matthew 11:5), echoing this chapter. He shows that the long-promised saving kingdom has arrived in him.
- The Holy Way is a secure, set-apart road on which only the redeemed travel, free from lions, danger, and the unclean (35:8-9). It pictures the safe pilgrimage God grants his people as he brings them home to himself.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name griefs they carry and to hold them against the promise of a day when sorrow and sighing flee away (35:10). As leader, point to the lasting joy secured in Christ.